Found Collection

I think the spindle bearings are ordinary ball bearings, like standard
sealed electric motor bearings - nothing ***.  In the realm of $50 for an
identical Chinese replacement.

That said, the quill bore is likely to wear faster than the bearings.  Do
you do all side cutting with the quill securely locked?  When boring, the
quill lock should be cranked enough to drag.   Accelerates wear but improves
the finish.

It's also possible that the upper spindle bearings are at fault, as they
take the side load of the belt but are not as beefy as the spindle bearings.

The table ways/gibs are also pretty rough, I found it difficult to get a
perfect gib adjustment and so have always cranked the gib locks until the
table drags a bit when making a finish cut.  Again, accelerates way wear but
improves finish.

Goes without saying whichever axis is not moving should have its gib locks
tight.  For boring, both axes.

Bob

According to the manual they are grease-packed taper roller bearings, the
upper is a 30205J and the lower is an E30206J.

Adjusted by a pair of locknuts at the top of the quill.

The manual says to loosen the bearings if they run too hot, tighten if the
surface finish is "rough".  It doesn't say how, but it looks like you remove
the rack pinion (i.e. the quill feed shaft) and the quill just drops out the
bottom of the head casting.  I don't know if you can get to the bearings via
any of the access plates, may just have to remove the quill.

I can say from other experience, if the quill doesn't heat up when running
at top speed, the bearings are too loose.

Mine has behaved so consistently, I never would have guessed taper roller
bearings.

Bob

Dick Morris
Anchorage, Alaska

On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 21:56:19 -0600, "Michael"